Leaving to become stronger

Part Twenty Two

Natsu started screaming.

A high pitched scream that shocked team Natsu to its core.

Lucy and Happy tried to approach Natsu but he was literally burning, that's why Erza stopped them.

"Gray! Do something!" Lucy screamed in panic and Gray only stood, shock was an understatement, watching Natsu being consumed by his own fire.

Lucy, Happy, and Wendy started crying.

"Save him!" Lucy begged Gray, but Gray shook his head.

"I don't think my magic can save him." Gray looked at the ground in shame and Lucy started fighting off Erza's grasp to run towards Natsu.

"NATSU!" Lucy yelled, sobbing, and Natsu heard her voice but couldn't react due to the pain.

"Can you hear me? Fight it, Natsu!" Lucy continued and Natsu actually started fighting it off, but he was losing consciousness as he tries fighting it.

As he grew unconscious, the flames around him and his body started extinguishing.

Then, Erza finally let's go off Lucy and they all had a worried look in them.

Lucy started running towards Natsu and touched his shoulder, only to get burned.

But, she didn't care.

She continued to touch him.

His cheek.

And, she just wanted to make sure that he was doing fine.

That's when Natsu started to be consumed by shadows.

As the shadows disappeared, a book that came from nowhere was placed on Natsu's hand.

It was the last piece of the artifact that they have to obtain.

Team Natsu couldn't turn their eyes away as Natsu's body started to get carved by some unknown markings.

Happy gasped as he was the only one who knew Natsu's real identity.

Happy started flying towards Natsu but instantly stopped as he found two sets of horns starting to grow on Natsu's head.

Everyone gasped, except for Lucy.

Natsu slowly opened his eyes, completely red like it was thirst with blood, and he looked at everyone, smirking evilly.

Natsu's nails turned to claws that's sharp as knives and he reached around his back then forced huge bat-like wings to appear from behind him.

"You've finally woke up." The shadowy figure stated, behind the scary-looking Natsu.

"So, you're the one who woke me up." Natsu stated in a bored manner, and the shadowy figure chuckled.

"You could say that." The shadowed figure revealed himself to be the one and only...

Rogue from Sabertooth.

This surprised everyone.

"Rogue! What's the meaning of this?" Erza questioned and Rouge laughed.

"I was hitting two birds with one stone, Erza Scarlet." Rouge noted, grabbing the artifacts that now turned into a crystalized sphere, and Erza charged in split second requiping in an instant to her morning star armor.

"Bring him back!" Erza growled and didn't faze the dark Rogue just smirked then emerged with the shadows, disappearing.

In that moment, the darkness on the cathedral was no more.